COPS must end “pathetic” witch hunts on free speech and focus on real crime, MPs insisted yesterday. It came after a nan was quizzed for criticising local Labour councillors online. Two cops called on Helen Jones, 54, at her home in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, after she said councillors in an offensive WhatsApp group should quit.
![[Journalist Toby Young speaking at a convention.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/efee8268-0903-4a4f-b261-ec5e443ace14.jpg?strip=all&w=645)
The nan had posted on Facebook 48 hours earlier about the scandal, which saw Health Minister Andrew Gwynne and Labour MP Oliver Ryan suspended. Free Speech Union’s Toby Young compared it to “a scene out of East Germany’s Stasi playbook”. Reform MP James McMurdock said: “Decision-making processes by senior officers need a reality check. It’s time to focus on solving real crime.”.
Reform’s Rupert Lowe added: “It’s pathetic. We’re being failed by woke police leadership. "Crackdown on real criminals, not opinionated grandmothers.”. Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Non-hate crime guidance must be re-written to ensure only if there’s a real risk of imminent criminality should police get involved.”.
Ms Jones, who was informed she had not committed a crime, told the Mail on Sunday:. “It was actually quite scary. It made me think I best just keep quiet for the rest of my life.”. Greater Manchester Police said: “We are under a duty to inform her she is the subject of a complaint of harassment.
